6 comments:

I totally agree. We attend the Latin Mass as often as we can for this very reason- I feel there is something "odd" about female alter servers, holding hands during the Our Father, etc. I don't know- call me a prude, but I love the traditional Mass!

I think introducing altar girls has been one of more positive reforms of Pope Benedict XVI's papacy. It dispels some of the all-male mystique of Catholicism. In decades to come, maybe it will be seen as having paved the way towards introducing women priests in the Catholic Church? The UK has a big shortage of Catholic priests, and I hear there are similar problems in other countries. Allowing women priests might help plug the gap.

Nope ... I agree with you ... Girl Altar Servers DO look weird. There are always more of them than boys.I also agree about the Our Father. I'm not a hand-holding person either. :) Although at our church, usually families hold hands with each other and I haven't been asked to hold a strangers' hand. I have been to masses where it is expected - and that is uncomfortable to me.

@Scout- There's an interesting argument from the traditional Catholics that actually argues the decline in the priesthood might be directly linked to having female alter servers. If you think about it, it has merit. Here's a link if you'd like to read more: http://www.totustuus.com/girlservers.htm

I am not a fan of the girl altar boys, which is why my daughters do not serve at Mass although they have been asked many times to do so. My sons serve at Mass happily and I am thrilled to see them up there.

We (our family) flat out refuse to hold hands during the Our Father. We fold our hands and bow our heads and are usually left alone. You can come sit by us. No craziness going on over here.